I Bid You Peace: The Rise & Fall of the Frugal Gourmet - Season 1

First aired: 1/23/2026 5 episodes

The meteoric rise and shocking downfall of America's most famous TV chef, The Frugal Gourmet's Jeff Smith, whose charm captivated millions—until it all came crashing down.

← Back to I Bid You Peace: The Rise & Fall of the Frugal Gourmet

Episodes

1. I Peddle Enthusiasm

Aired: 1/23/2026

Raised in Seattle, Jeff Smith's love of food, religion, and teaching turns him into a beloved campus chaplain—and then an unlikely TV chef. As The Frugal Gourmet is born, early success collides with debt, illness, and choices that threaten everything he's built.

2. Keep Your Fingers Bent Under!

Aired: 1/23/2026

A single TV appearance catapults Jeff to national fame. Bestselling books, global travel, and PBS stardom follow—but behind the charm are rages, excess, and growing doubts about who Jeff really is, both on-screen and off.

3. Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

Aired: 1/23/2026

Returning to Seattle, Jeff searches for reinvention as cracks widen behind the scenes. New projects mix food, faith, and spectacle, but chaos and troubling behavior mount—until one unexpected phone call threatens to shatter everything.

4. Whatever I Do, I'm Forgiven

Aired: 1/23/2026

Public accusations explode into a reckoning. As multiple men come forward, long-whispered rumors surface, dividing supporters and exposing patterns once ignored. With a lawsuit looming, Jeff's legacy—and credibility—hang in the balance.

5. Peace?

Aired: 1/23/2026

In the aftermath, 'The Frugal Gourmet' fades from the public eye, isolated and haunted by unanswered questions. Friends, critics, and survivors reflect on Jeff's impact, struggling to reconcile generosity with harm—and asking whether peace was ever truly possible.